The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-01-29
Washington News and Gossip.
From our Special Correspondent.

FROM our special Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. "a, 'S7.
Mr.. EDITOR: 1t is announced that in the
event of the Senate's rejecting, fora second
time, the nomination of Matthews for the
position of Recorder of Deeds for the Dis
trict of Columbia, that the President will,
in all probability, nominate another colored
man for the position. The person who is
said to have been selected by the President
is William H. Smith, who for the past
twenty-five years has been the assistant Ii
brarian of the House of Representatives.
Mr.. Smith was born slave in the District
of Columbia, but with his family was
emancipated in 1859 by the will of the gen.
tleman who owned him. From the time of
the emancipation of slaves down to 1872 he
was Republican, but since that time he
has taken no active part in politics. Dur
ing his long term of service as librarian lie
has acquired such complete and accurate
knowledge Of the arrangement of the IL
brary that his services have been considered
invaluable, and his removal has never been
suggested by either the Republican or
Democratic parties. Mr.. Smith is exceed
ingly popular at the Capitol and it is said
that the President has received ample as
surances from both Democratic and Re-
publican Senators that in case his name is
presented for the position that it will be at
once confirmed.
70 hu Low .I,,oI
French spoliation claims must be filed ex-
pired on Friday last, at which time 5,5G7
claims had been filed. A bill was recently
passed by the Senate, without opposition
extending the time for filing these claims
for orc year, and it will doubtless pass the
House of Representatives.
Once in four years the Post Office De-
partment informs the public that in case
an inventor has produced a new device
suitable for use in the postal service, which
would be an improvement on those in use.
a change would be made. The announce
ment is about to be made. and will of
course result in the appearance of q host of
inventors, each claiming his invention to
be the most complete and desirable for the
particular use for which it is intended, and
each confident in the belief that the com
mittee intrusted with the duty of examn-
ing the devices submitted for examination
will agree with him in his opinion as to
the value of his particular invention as
compared with the hundreds of others that
are presented.
Speaker Carlisle has, in response to the
urgent request of the corps of lady news.
paper correspondents in Washibgton, ,desig.
mated that the first two rows of seats in the
private gallery, adjoining the press gallery
be reserved for their exclusive occupancy
This was done in compliance with an urg
cnt demand made TO the committee or
rules, but now that their request has been
granted, the favor does not seem to be ap,
preciated, as not even those who were the
most persistent in their efforts to secure the
concession have not claimed the privilege
granted them by the Speaker.
The first State dinner given by the Presi
dent and Mrs. Cleveland was given or
Thursday evening. The families Of tht
Cabinet and few others were entertained
The presence of Mrs. Lamar, the bride OF
the Cabinet, and Governor Fitzhugh Lee
and wife, from Richmond, rendered the
occasion particularly interesting. II.